Thomas Gabriel Salome, Jr.

Thomas Gabriel Salome, Jr., of Waco, passed away peacefully Friday, February 26, 2021, at the age of 89 after a short illness. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 am on Tuesday March 2, 2021 at St. Louis Catholic Church with a private family burial at Oakwood Cemetery in Waco. The rosary will be recited at 10 a.m. prior to the Mass. Social distancing and facial coverings are required. Visitation with the family will be 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Monday, March 1, at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home. Tom was born in Dallas, Texas, to Annie and Thomas Sr. on January 14, 1932, but soon thereafter moved to Waco where his father started a 24-hour grocery. At the age of 8, Tom started working in the grocery store after school and on weekends. This was the beginning of a lifetime of exceptional work ethics. Tom attended Sacred Heart Academy Catholic School for his elementary years, then South Junior and Waco High School. Excelling in math, Tom entered Baylor University Business School in 1949 to pursue degrees in economics and accounting. As a freshman he met the love of his life, Martha Ann Baur, and the two were married four years later. In 1954, Tom graduated from Baylor University and directly entered the United States Air Force as a second lieutenant. After a year of Navigation School at Ellington Air Force Base in Houston, he transferred to New Castle Air Force Base in Wilmington, Delaware where he re-trained World War II navigators. He served his country until 1957 and was honorably discharged as a First Lieutenant. While at Ellington Air Force Base Tom and Martha welcomed their first of four sons. Their second son was born in Delaware. Upon returning to Waco in 1957, with his military obligation fulfilled, Tom joined Melvin Lipsitz, Sr. and began his life-career in the recycling business. Over the course of his 63-year partnership with M. Lipsitz & Co., Tom expanded the business from one to nine plants located throughout Texas and Oklahoma and developed a commercial waste company. Tom served as president of the Gulf Coast Chapter/Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Chairman of ISIS Finance Committee and Chairman of the ISRI Convention Committee. He is currently the Chairman of The Board of M. Lipsitz & Co. that employs more than 300 people with 150 employed in Waco. During his career with M. Lipsitz & Co. Tom made time to be continually active in community affairs, from serving on non-profit boards of local and out of state organizations to chairing fund raising events. His greatest single fundraising effort was for Waco Chamber of Commerce “green” building. His efforts help raise 7.4 million dollars, which led to naming the building the “Salome Commerce Center” in his honor. Tom leaves a legacy of dedicated service to Waco through his volunteer efforts and support, having served on boards or a member of The Waco ISD Education Foundation, Hillcrest Hospital Board of Development, Cameron Park Zoological & Botanical Society, and the Brazos River Corridor Advisory Development Board. Other Boards included The Salvation Army, East Waco Development Corp., Waco Big 12 Task Force, Dr Pepper Museum, Texas Sports Hall of Fame, Adopt-a-School Program-Waco ISD, YMCA, Ascension Providence Foundation, and the McLennan Community College Foundation, Heart of Texas Fair & Rodeo, C-5 Youth Foundation, Waco Industrial Foundation, and The Waco Foundation to name a few. His passion for Waco and a personal commitment to making it prosper helped create opportunities for businesses, for children and for the future. Many of the organizations he worked with to enhance and promote their growth honored him with The Angel Award-Heart of Texas Business Resource Center, Distinguished Service Award-Waco Jaycee, Humanitarian of the Year-Waco Conference of Christian and Jews, Distinguished Citizens Award-Longhorn Council/Boy Scouts of America, and Distinguished Alumni Award-Waco High School. Tom also received Baylor University Philanthropy Medallions Honoree and The Association of Fundraising Professional Philanthropists of the Year Honor. A Lifetime Achievement Award was presented from the Waco Business League and The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries and a Citizen Leadership Award from the International Economic Development Council. The Greater Waco Chamber bestowed its Inaugural Legacy Award to Tom. Other interests included Marsal Arabians that Tom and his wife Martha operate. He also coached Little League for over 12 years, was an avid Orchid grower, a huge Baylor Bear fan and a partner in many real estate ventures in Waco and throughout Texas. Tom leaves behind many wonderful memories with family, friends, and business associates. He was predeceased by his parents, Annie and Tom Sr.; brother, George; sisters, Genevieve Salome Elliot and Christine Salome Laboeuf; infant grandson, Collin; and son, Richard Salome. Tom is survived by his loving wife of 66 years, Martha; his sons, Thomas (Bud) III and wife Anne; Robert (Bobby) and wife Dana; Greg and wife Karen; his grandchildren, Thomas (Rell) IV and wife Margaret (Meg); Stanton and wife Ashley; Cameron and wife Ashton; Eric and wife Mandy; Chandler and wife Krystin; Clayton and wife Gemme; Ryan and wife Kirby; Devon and wife Brianna, and Cody Salome. His great grandchildren, Thomas (Cinco) V; Samuel, Corbin, Kennedy, Dean, Cooper, Daniel, Liam, and Brinley; sister, Ann Salome Bechtel. He is also survived by numerous nephews and cousins and by special lifelong friends, the Lipsitz Family and all the personnel of M. Lipsitz & Co. In lieu of flowers the family request memorials be sent to St. Louis Catholic Church, 2001 N. 25th St. Waco, TX 76708; Mission Waco, 1315 N. 15th St., Waco, TX 76707; Fuzzy Friends Rescue, PO Box 20966, Waco, TX 76702; or a charity of your choice. The family invites you to leave a message or memory on our “Tribute Wall” at www.WHBfamily.com.